Friday, October 8, 2010

Ibalong Festival is a week long feast that is celebrated every second week of October every year in Legazpi, Albay. This is a celebration depicting Bicol's early beginnings as portrayed in the "Ibalong" epic that tells of super heroes Handiong, Batlog and Oryol, villains and wild animals that roamed in the ancient times. Revelers parade on the streets wearing masks of these heroes and villains. There are also other festival activities that include tours, trade fairs, exhibits and beauty pageants.

The festival showcases the ancient Bicolano epic that portrays the superheroes of pre-historic Bicol by means of s street parade, contests in native songs and dances, art exhibits, sports fests and honoring of Bicolano achievers. Like most fiestas in the country, the main event of Ibalong Festival is its choreographed dances performed in the streets of Legazpi City. Such performances depict the numerous myths and legends contained in the Ibalong epic of the province and are done with the majestic visage of the Mayon Volcano, with its perfect cone, as their backdrop. The street dances are commonly performed by students from high schools throughout Albay and some times even from those outside of the province are invited to participate in the street dance which also doubles as a contest.